Newcastle make approach for international striker from PL club, emphatic response given – report

Newcastle United have approached West Ham about the possibility of signing Diafra Sakho, according to a report.

The Sun has claimed that the Hammers have emphatically rejected a bid from the Magpies to take Sakho, 28, on loan for the second half of the season.

It is understood that Everton are also looking at the Senegal international striker from their Premier League rivals, even though Sam Allardyce has already bolstered his strike force by bringing in Cenk Tosun for £27million.

Allardyce is also said to be keeping tabs on Celtic forward Moussa Dembele.

Sakho has not played for West Ham since he scored in the 3-0 win against Stoke in mid-December.

This season, the former Metz striker has made 17 appearances across all competitions, scoring four goals in the process as he has finally been able to put to bed the back injury that haunted him last term.

Football Insider verdict

Newcastle really are desperate for a new striker this month and it seems that yet again their financial restrictions are getting in the way. It’s all gone quiet on the takeover front and that is very worrying for the Toon. They need money to bolster the squad this month because most other sides in the relegation scrap are likely to have some cash to burn in order to strengthen. Newcastle face a real danger of going back down if they don’t improve this month. Sakho is better than the likes of Dwight Gayle and Joselu but his injury problems over the last 18 months are not something that should be ignored.